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Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding Course
Ski Mountaineering School
Acquire skills, attitudes, and awareness needed for ski mountaineering tours, such as descents in Colorado ranges, or ski traverses like the Haute Route in the Alps or the Wapta Traverse in Canada.
- Thu, Mar 13, 2025 - Sun, Jun 1, 2025
- Committee: Denver
- Members: $350.00 Guests: $400.00
- Availability: 12 (12 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
The program is a combination of lectures and progressive field days. The goal of the course is to prepare CMC members to make the transition from skiing groomed slopes at resorts to touring the off-piste environment in the mountains. Although terrain requiring technical gear such as crampons, ice axes, ropes, etc., may be encountered during the field trips, the school will not cover glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Read on!
Prerequisites:
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Steep ski skills (black diamond) in varied terrain and snow conditions, including ascending and descending in controlled manner. No need to be a “ripper”, but skiing in full control in all snow conditions (breakable crust, mank, wet grabby powder, perfect corn and white smoke) is important.
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Fitness and stamina to climb/travel at 1000’/ hr and 3 mph on skis for 3000+ foot, 3-5 mile ascents.
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Experience with traveling on skins (ski or splitboard) in mountain terrain for at least 2 full seasons including at least 1 CMC ski outing or the CMC "Introduction to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding", with instructor/leader reference.
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AIARE avy 1 in last 5 years; CMC "Alpine Climbing School" snow travel class, or similar experience (crampon, axe and snow climbing skills/experience).
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Current First aid or WFA cert.
Registration is by application only. Skiers need to have all the basics for backcountry ski travel and touring solidly down prior to this class, it is an advanced mountaineering skiing course.
Badges you will earn:
Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
---|---|---|---|
Lecture | |||
Course Venue TBA |
Thu, Mar 13, 2025
Registration opens Feb 26; Instructor registration open now
|
12
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Course Venue TBA |
Thu, Mar 20, 2025
Registration opens Feb 26; Instructor registration open now
|
12
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Course Venue TBA |
Thu, Mar 27, 2025
Registration opens Feb 26; Instructor registration open now
|
12
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Course Venue TBA |
Thu, Apr 3, 2025
Registration opens Feb 26; Instructor registration open now
|
12
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Field Day (optional) | |||
Butler Gulch: Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering |
Sat, Mar 29, 2025
Registration closes Mar 27
|
11
participants
|
|
Herman Gulch Trail - Jones Pass Trail via Herman Gulch |
Sat, Apr 12, 2025
Registration closes Apr 10
|
11
participants
|
|
Dry Gulch TH to The Citadel |
Sat, Apr 26, 2025
Registration closes Apr 24
|
11
participants
|
|
Gray's and Torrey's Peaks |
Sat, May 10, 2025
Registration closes May 8
|
11
participants
|
|
Brainard Lake Rec Area - Winter Gateway |
Sat–Mon, May 24–26, 2025
Registration closes May 22
|
11
participants
|
|
Independence Pass |
Fri, May 30–Sun, Jun 1, 2025
Registration closes May 28
|
11
participants
|
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Modern AT or tele skiis or splitboard, with functional and comfortable boots and modern free pivot bindings, full width skins, and ski crampons. Some of these can be rented/demo-ed, but self- owned is expected before end of season for familiarity, efficiency, and safety in the later bigger outings.
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Modern 3- antenna Beacon, shovel and probe, and know how to use them. Ice axe and boot and ski crampons, and the skills to use them properly
- Other gear will be communicated during classes
There are no materials for this course.